Tu, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

“ Getting to the 30’s I actually had to face a lot of thing that were not planned”

Name : Tu Nhu Anh

Gender : Male

DoB : 16.02.1983

City of Birth : Hoa Binh, Vietnam

Status : Divorced

Family : 1 Son, 2yo

Hometown : HCMC, Vietnam

Education : MBA

Job : Business Director

Religion : Buddhist

Politics : –

As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?

JOB – How did you decide to do this job?

I have always wanted to be a business man… I remember that I would rent my comics and my toys… I was just around 10 ! A true business boy ! Maybe this is why I decided to study banking ☺.

When I was 5 years old, my parents lived a very difficult financial time. I only remember that I was only eating plain rice and green papaya…

HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought we would be living by now?

I remember that I wanted to live in Hanoi, the capital. I was born in the surburbs of Hanoi, It was countryside at the time. By 10, my family and I moved to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), I went back there again to study banking and then moved again to Saigon a few years ago.

Tu spending time with his 2yo son at home.

HCMC is one of the cities with more motorbike… Tu also uses a bike to get around the city!

Striking and memorable events…

IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life?

When I was 5 years old, my parents lived a very difficult financial time. We were living in the countryside, near Hanoi. Both of them were Mathematic teachers so it should have been fine. But still there were some problems… I only remember that I was only eating plain rice and green papaya…

IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in?

Vietnam : There is not one event that come to my mind but it is more the fact that Vietnam made it easier for people to travel abroad and opened their boarders over the last decade. I really think that it is an important step forward.

World : The Tsunami that stroke Japan in 2011 really moved me… I also think that the way Japanese handled the situation should be an example. They way they stuck together to overcome such a nightmare was really great.

BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory?

I think it was the day my family bought their first house in Saigon (HCMC). I was about 12 years old at the time and it was an kind of an achievement. It was a great time because my parents left their jobs and were running a business (exporting crab in China).

Another event that changed my life and was maybe the happiest day of my life was the birth of my son…

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT –

I am proud that I am independent and that I do not need the help of anyone. Especially when my parents divorced, I was just living with my mum and I had to cook for myself, arrange everything…

Looking back / Reviewing expectations

10 YEARS AGO, When I was in my 20’s, I thought I would have my own restaurant in Saigon, be married and have normal nice family by the age of 30. Nothing exceptional, just normal… As an adult I have always wanted to live in Saigon and I know I got the entrepreneur virus because of my parents and their crab business with China…

TODAY, Thing went a bit different from the way I planned… I got married but just got divorced… We still got a nice son together from who I am really proud! When it comes to my job, I work as a business manager but I am about to resign. I want to take cooking lesson to be able to open my own restaurant in a near future.

Tu exercises everyday before going to work.

Tu having dinner home with his son and his maid.

30 years old, a turning point?

WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO?

Getting to the 30’s I actually had to face a lot of thing that were not planned, to keep my position and my life. I need to adapt to situations I did not even think about… An other thing is that my priorities changed… I used to care a lot about money and today the most important for me is my son and traveling.

I feel young!! It is a bit strange because when I was in my early 20’s I was thinking that 30 year old people were old… but today I reached it and I still feel like I am 20…

OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »?

I feel young!! It is a bit strange because when I was in my early 20’s I was thinking that 30 year old people were old… but today I reached it and I still feel like I am 20… Maybe because my friends and relationship look so normal to me! I don’t really see the change. We still have a lot of fun with my friends and I am still young in my head.

CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change?

If I were able to change in my past I would have chosen another university to learn and study English harder so as to have better chances to study abroad.

My Values

My Typical day

And tomorrow?

YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years?

I want to have another child, a girl…I also want to open my own business, abroad I hope, maybe Germany or Australia because I have some friends living there. Maybe I will open a restaurant there, where I will be the manager and sometimes cook as well.

THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years?

Vietnam : Our economy fluctuates a lot…. And it is not a secret that our fate is linked to China’s… because China is our main trading partner and many investments in Vietnam come from Chinese investors (many companies and resorts). I think that Vietnamese people are not so happy with this dependence… In several years, I feel that we will have a crisis that will help us to purge and grow again later.

World : It is hard to say because it is a hard question… I think that the world is closer to everyone. Easier to communicate and progresses in technology are amazing….I see the world’s economy very unstable. I have the feeling that one have to rely on himself for his family and his future… I also do not know why but I think there are high chances that we will witness some wars.

Fears and Dreams…

FEARS – What are you afraid of? I fear that my children will not have good condition to develop… And I refer to basic needs: education, housing, food…

ACHIEVEMENTS – What are the things you want to achieve? I really want to have a daughter… but not get married again! ☺

DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams? I do not want a lot… Maybe I would like to own a small island in the Mediterranean sea and set up a small farm there…